The revised mine, which is smaller than the original proposal and will not be seen by neighbouring horse studs, was submitted in order to secure a future for Anglo American workers, the communities that depend on the mine continuing, and for co-existence with other industries in the Hunter. 

This compromise follows a report submitted by Anglo American in February to the NSW Department of Planning in response to the Planning Assessment Commission’s (PAC) report last December. 

In its response, Anglo American argued the PAC had disregarded the terms of reference and ignored the project’s extensive environmental assessment reports.

Anglo American’s Drayton South project director Rick Fairhurst said the revised mine plan was a positive step forward for the project and, most importantly, the 500 employees and 140 local businesses that depend on continued work at Drayton.

“Drayton South is an important project securing the economic prosperity of the Hunter Valley and would mean hundreds of direct jobs for local people as well as flow on benefits to the region,” he said.

“When we presented to the PAC last October, we strongly believed we had already made the right changes to the mine plan to allow us to continue to work alongside other industries and our thoroughbred horse breeding neighbours. 

“However, in light of the PAC report on the project and our commitment to coexistence, we have agreed to make even further changes to the mine plan. 

“This is on top of the $6 billion worth of compromises we had agreed to previously, based on stakeholder feedback.”